Nominated for “Junior IP Barrister of the Year” by Managing IP, 2021 and 2022.
“Thomas St Quintin is excellent. He has brilliant attention to detail and is always able to pick up on all the key points.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“He is a persuasive and super smooth barrister.” “Super bright, and his output is phenomenal. His commercial and tactical know-how is fantastic. He is unflappable, with a smooth and measured advocacy style.” “He is incredibly clever and very effective in court.” Chambers & Partners 2022
“A strong barrister, who is highly regarded for his IP advice.” Legal 500 2022
“He ticks every box you would want – he is responsive, a super advocate and very bright.” Chambers & Partners 2020
“Nothing is ever too much trouble for him. He has great technical knowledge and is very measured and assured on his feet.” Chambers & Partners 2019
“He is responsive, thorough, logical and committed to the fight.” “He is very bright, approachable and a pleasure to work with.” Chambers & Partners 2018
“His written work is superb, as is his tactical and commercial approach in court.” “He’s extremely bright and prepared to roll up his sleeves to get the job done.” Chambers & Partners 2018
Profile
Tom specialises in intellectual property, media and entertainment. He has been instructed in cases in the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court, and has successfully appeared as the sole advocate in each of the Court of Appeal, High Court, Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, and in the UKIPO.
His practice covers all areas of IP law, and is fairly evenly split between patents, trade marks, copyright, designs and confidential information cases (both technical and those involving privacy). He is a co-author of the Modern Law of Trade Marks, of Intellectual Property in Europe, and is a contributor to Copinger and Skone-James on Copyright.
Before coming to the Bar, Tom was a Senior Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge where he read Natural Sciences, specialising in Materials Science and Metallurgy, then (after 5 months spent skiing and 4 working for a bank) studied the Cambridge Engineering Department’s unique Advanced Course in Design, Manufacture and Management. After that, he then worked for three years as a technical consultant at Cambridge Consultants Limited, a leading technology and innovation company, where he designed drug delivery devices, medical diagnostic equipment and novel domestic appliances.
As a result of this background, Tom understands commercial objectives and has experience of a very wide range of technologies, giving him an ability to rapidly assimilate and understand new areas.
Directory & Testimonial Quotes
Chambers & Partners 2023
Intellectual Property:“He is a persuasive and super smooth barrister.” “Super bright, and his output is phenomenal. His commercial and tactical know-how is fantastic. He is unflappable, with a smooth and measured advocacy style.” “He is incredibly clever and very effective in court.”
Media & Entertainment: “Thomas St Quintin is a very safe pair of hands.”
Chambers & Partners 2022
Intellectual Property: “He is a persuasive and super smooth barrister.” “Super bright, and his output is phenomenal. His commercial and tactical know-how is fantastic. He is unflappable, with a smooth and measured advocacy style.” “He is incredibly clever and very effective in court.”
Chambers & Partners 2020
Intellectual Property: “He is hard-working and has sound judgement.”
Media & Entertainment 2020: “He’s very persuasive, responsive and a super advocate.”
Chambers & Partners 2019
Intellectual Property: “Nothing is ever too much trouble for him. He has great technical knowledge and is very measured and assured on his feet.” “He is a good writer of opinions and developer of strategies.”
Media & Entertainment: “He’s excellent on paper and is a very persuasive advocate.”
Chambers & Partners 2018
Intellectual Property: “He is responsive, thorough, logical and committed to the fight.” “He is very bright, approachable and a pleasure to work with.”
Media & Entertainment: “His written work is superb, as is his tactical and commercial appraoch in court.” “He’s extremely bright and prepared to roll up his sleeves to get the job done.”
Chambers & Partners 2017
Intellectual Property: “He ticks all the boxes – he is technically outstanding, responsive, approachable, commercial and clearly has a razor-sharp mind. He understands the principles of client service and helps solicitors deliver exceptional service to their clients.” “He is very thorough, always thinks very commercially, and is very bright. He makes things clear for clients and puts them at ease.”
Media & Entertainment: “He is extremely bright and prepared to roll up his sleeves to get the job done.”
Chambers & Partners 2016
Intellectual Property: “He is an excellent, formidable advocate and a dedicated team player.” “He thinks things through very well and is extremely easy to work with.” “He works very quickly”. “He’s unflappable. Some are better under pressure than others, and he’s particularly dauntless.”
Media & Entertainment: “He works very quickly on paper; he’s so quick and so precise.” “He’s unflappable. Some are better under pressure than others, and he’s particularly dauntless.”
Chambers & Partners 2015
Intellectual Property: “A rising star who gives good, practical advice, is very responsive and has a good drafting style for pleadings and skeleton arguments”
Media and Entertainment: “Accessible and extremely commercial.” He’s good at explaining complex concepts to creative people.”
Chambers & Partners 2014
Thomas St Quintin “has a broad IP practice and a range of experience across both hard and soft IP. Regularly undertakes cases in the Patents County Court and has acted as junior counsel in the Court of Appeal. He is an extremely capable, astute barrister. He’s a very clever fellow with a high level of commercial nous.”
Chambers & Partners 2013
Thomas St Quintin is a talented up-and-coming junior who is building a strong practice across the spectrum of IP litigation. He has recently been instructed on a major computer copyright case in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and also acted on the high-profile dispute between the FA Premier League and QC Leisure over the use of the use of overseas satellite decoder cards.
Legal 500 2022
Intellectual Property: “A strong barrister, who is highly regarded for his IP advice.” Legal 500 2022
Legal 500 2021
Intellectual Property: “Tom St Quintin has a great future.”
Legal 500 2020
Intellectual Property: “A great go-to for trade mark work, he is very careful and precise in his work.”
Legal 500 2019
Intellectual Property: “He is a great, go-to advocate for trade mark work.”
Legal 500 2016
Intellectual Property: “His advice in relation to both strategic and legal issues is clear and helpful.”
Legal 500 2015
Intellectual Property: “Good at thinking on his feet and explaining issues in a client-friendly manner.”
Legal 500 2014
Intellectual Property: “Very good at spotting points that others might have been missed.” [sic!]
World Trade Mark Review 2017
“Tom St Quintin “thinks through all the issues in a very level headed way” and is “simply very effective”.
Premonition study of Chancery Division litigation between 2014-2016
Tom was one of 4 barristers identified as having a 100% success rate in the Premonition study of Chancery Division litigation between 2014-2016
Career
Tom specialises in all areas of intellectual property and in media and entertainment law. He has been involved in patent disputes about mobile phones, LEDs, and simpler technologies, trade mark, passing off, copyright, registered and unregistered designs, IT and computer contract disputes, cases about confidential information, cases about database rights, disputes between performers and their agents, managers or labels, and defamation cases. He has been instructed in cases in the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court, and has successfully appear as the sole advocate in each of the Court of Appeal, High Court, Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, and in the UKIPO.
Cases
Patents
Abbott & Anor v Design & Display Ltd & Anor [2016] EWCA Civ 95; [2014] EWHC 2924 (IPEC) and [2014] EWHC 3234 (IPEC) – Acting as sole counsel for the First Defendant in an account of profits both at first instance and, successfully, on appeal, and in the account remitted to the IPEC after the success of that appeal.
Caterpillar Inc v Joseph Vogele – defending a patent revocation action involving an unconditional amendment in the UKIPO
Collingwood Lighting v Aurora Lighting [2014] EWHC 228 (Pat) – Junior counsel for the Defendant in High court patent infringement and validity dispute concerning fire-rated LED downlighters.
Vision Critical v Future Route (2012 – settled during trial) – Junior counsel for the Claimant, led by Alastair Wilson QC, in a patent infringement and validity dispute concerning a patent for a computer implemented invention for extraction of data from accounting databases.
Three-D-Signs Limited v Infield 3D Advertising Limited (2012 – settled) – Counsel for the Defendant in a patent infringement and validity dispute concerning logos painted on sports fields.
TIP v Motorola [2010] – Assisting as a junior counsel for the Defendants in this patent dispute concerning mobile phone GPRS data. Settled on the eve of trial.
Nichia Corporation v Seoul Semiconductor Limited [2008] – While on a 9 month secondment to Powell Gilbert LLP, Tom was heavily involved in this substantial and highly technical patent action.
LB Europe v Smurfit [2007] EWCA Civ 933 – Junior counsel in an appeal on infringement of a patent for wine-box taps.
Designs
Raft Ltd v. Freestyle of Newhaven Ltd & Ors. [2016] EHC 1711 (IPEC) – A design right infringement case regarding sofas.
Alfrank Designs v Harveys and anor [2015] EWHC 1372 (IPEC) – Counsel for the claimant in a claim for designs infringement in various items of furniture. Liability settled shortly before trial. The Claimant recovered a six-figure sum, and its costs, on a damages enquiry.
Utopia Tableware Ltd v BBP Marketing Ltd – Counsel for the claimant in an application for an interim injunction in the PCC [2013] EWPCC 15 followed by a further hearing in respect of various false statements [2013] EWPCC 28, and trial [2013] EWHC 3483 (IPEC), [2014] E.C.C. 34; related contempt proceedings in Solicitor General v Dodd [2014] F.S.R. 27
UWUG Ltd v Ball (t/a Red) [2013] EWPCC 35 – Counsel for the Claimant in a Registered and unregistered designs case, primarily concerning ownership of designs in bondage equipment. A damages enquiry is now underway.
Muck Truck UK Ltd v Helps (t/a Helps Muck Truck Sales) [2013] EWHC 74 (Ch) – Acting for the Claimant in a preliminary issue concerning the construction of a settlement agreement in a Registered Designs case.
Copyright/Media/Entertainment
Thelma Madine and Anor. v. Leanne Phillips and Anor. – acting for the Claimant in the IPEC with regard to a design right and passing off case in regard to dresses and figurines.
Hipperholme v Lightcliffe Day Nurseries Ltd – a defamation action with regard to negative social media use and communications to defame a business.
Afsana Lachaux v Bruno Lachaux & Anor. – a matter in the Queen’s Bench Division acting for the Defendants in a breach of confidence/privacy action.
Phonographic Performance Limited v Miller– Acting for the Claimant in an application for committal for breach of court order for playing music in a public place without licence.
Personal Management Solutions Ltd v Gee 7 Group Ltd [2015] EWHC 3859 (Ch) – Counsel for the appellant in an appeal concerning the jurisdiction to make a pre-action disclosure order
Phonographic Performance Ltd v Fletcher [2015] EWHC 2562 (Ch); [2015] L.L.R. 806; Phonographic Performance Ltd v John [2015] EWHC 3394 (Ch) – Counsel for the Claimant in two applications for committal for breaches of injunctions restraining the playing of sound recordings in public. Both respondents were given suspended sentences of imprisonment.
Atelier Eighty Two Ltd v Kilnworx Climbing Centre CIC [2015] EWHC 2291 (IPEC) – Counsel for the Claimant in a copyright claim, turning on the ownership of copyright in logos used by a climbing centre.
Akhtar v Bhopal Productions (UK) Ltd [2015] EWHC 154 (IPEC); [2015] F.S.R. 30 – Counsel for the principal defendants in a claim alleging ownership and infringement of the copyright in a feature film.
Seven Arts Entertainment Ltd v Content Media Corp Plc [2013] EWHC 588 (Ch) – Junior Counsel for the Claimant, led by Guy Tritton, in a summary judgment application relying on issue estoppel in respect of ownership of the copyrights in a collection of films.
Sheldon v Daybrook House Promotions Ltd [2013] EWPCC 26 – Counsel for the claimant in a PCC preliminary issue concerning quantum in a photographic copyright infringement claim.
Various Claimants v News Group Newspapers and Mulcaire [2012] – Various phone hacking claims (all settled).
The Saturdays v Maximum Artist Management (settled) [2012] – A dispute between the successful girl-band and their former management.
ITV Broadcasting and others v TVCatchup Limited [2011] EWHC 2977 (Pat); [2012] E.C.D.R. 5; [2012] F.S.R. 10 – Junior counsel for the defendants in a broadcasting copyright case, concerning the live streaming of free-to-air television channels.
Football Association Premier League Ltd v QC Leisure [2008] FSR 32 and CJEU Case 403/08 – Acting as a junior counsel for the Defendants both in the Chancery Division and the CJEU in a case concerning the use of overseas satellite decoder cards under the Conditional Access Directive, numerous alleged copyright infringements in the broadcasts of Premier League football matches, and related competition issues. The Advocate General’s opinion is expected on 13 January 2011.
Trade Marks and Passing Off
Lifestyle Equities CV (known as Beverly Hills Polo Club) & Anor. v Sportsdirect.com Retail Ltd & Ors [2016] EWHC 2092 (Ch); [2017] F.S.R. 12 and [2017] EWHC 154 (Ch) – acting for the Claimant in a trade mark infringement amd breach of contract action in respect of the sale of branded clothing.
Yoshida Metal Industry v OHIM – Appeal to the CJEU (Luxembourg) – a case regarding registration of the trade mark for decorated handles of the well-known “Global” range of kitchen knives.
The National Guild of Removers and Storers Ltd v. Statham (t/a Marubbis Removals & Storage) [2014] EWHC 3572 (IPEC) – Counsel for the defendant in a damages enquiry following admitted acts of passing off. The court was pesuaded not to follow earlier decisions awarding the claimant considerably higher sums in damages.
The National Guild of Removers and Storers Ltd v Milner (t/a Intransit Removals and Storage) & Ors [2014] EWHC 670 (IPEC), [2014] F.S.R. 38 – Counsel for the successful defendant in a registered trade mark, passing off and copyright infringement matter, which turned on whether or not the defendant had authorised publication of the Claimant’s logos.
Data Marketing & Secretarial Ltd & Anor v S & S Enterprises Ltd [2014] EWHC 1499 (IPEC), [2014] E.C.C. 22, [2015] F.S.R. 1, – Counsel for the successful claimant in a registered trade mark infringement action.
Shorinji Kempo Unity v British Shorinji Kempo Federation [2014] EWHC 285 (Ch) – Acting for the appellant in an appeal from the UK IPO to the High Court. Genuine use was held proven (contrary to the findings of the hearing officer) but the appeal failed on likelihood of confusion.
Redwood Tree Services Limited v Aspey [2011] EWPCC 14 – Counsel for the successful claimant in this passing off case in the Patents County Court.
Agilitise Ltd Trade Mark Application – Appointed Person O-489-15 Acting for the respondent in an appeal of a s.5(4)(a) opposition, in which allegations about the propriety of the hearing officer’s conduct of the opposition were raised.
Clevercat Productions Ltd Registration – Appointed Person O-049-15 – Acting for the respondent in an appeal of an opposition decision turning on proper reasons for non-use of the registration.
Cranleys Partnership v Cranleys Solicitors – Appointed Person O-354-14 – Acting for the successful appellant in an appeal of an invalidity opposition and related opposition.
Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited v Syngenta Limited – Appointed Person O-326-14 – Acting for the successful respondent in an appeal of a decision in a s.5(2) opposition.
Appetite Trade Mark – Appointed Person O-275-11 – Acting for the successful appellant in an appeal from a trade mark opposition.
Easyramps Trade Mark – Appointed Person O-082-11 – Acting for the successful respondent in an appeals from two apparently inconsistent trade mark opposition decisions.
King Power Investments Limited v London Film Finance Limited [2010] – An action to recover the trade marks of the “Patrick Cox” fashion house, misappropriated by a former director then subjected to restraint orders imposed on that director by the Serious Fraud Office. Resolved without a trial.
Computer Contract Disputes/Databases
118 Data Resource Ltd v IDS Data Services Ltd [2014] EWHC 3629 (Ch) – Acting for the claimant in a database right and licensing dispute.
GSMA v Europa Technologies Ltd [2013] EWHC 3451 (TCC) – Acting for the defendant in a computer contract dispute concerning electronic mapping in the TCC.
Softlanding Systems Inc. v. KDP Software Ltd [2010] EWHC 326 (TCC) and [2010] EWCA Civ 1172 – Acting for KDP (led by Jeremy Reed) in a computer contract dispute in the Technology and Construction Court and Court of Appeal.
Confidential Information
Kerry Ingredients (UK) Ltd v. Bakkavor Group Ltd and Ors. [2016] EWHC 2448 (Ch) – Acting for the successful Claimant in a breach of confidence claim concerning a recipe to manufacture infused edible oils.
Membership
Intellectual Property Bar Association
Chancery Bar Association
Qualifications and Regulations
Qualifications
M.Sci. MA (Cantab)
Regulations
Tom is a self-employed, independent barrister whose practice is governed by the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales. He is registered with the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales (Bar Ref: 50493)
He has professional indemnity insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF Ref: 2190/054). Please refer to the BMIF website for full details of the world-wide cover provided, and the BMIF’s contact details.
Publications
Human Interest
Tom enjoys rugby and skiing.
